From fireman to an EastEnder hardman

A FIREFIGHTER will be making an appearance in Albert Square after becoming the latest south Essex actor to bag a spot on hit soap Eastenders.

Gary Finan, 40, from Benfleet, is set to make his debut on the BBC soap tonight, playing the role of a burly bodyguard hired by hardman Phil Mitchell.

Show veteran Phil decides to start taking an interest in girlfriend Sharon Watts’ new cocktail bar – and employs security against her wishes.

Mr Finan, based at Rayleigh Weir fire station, has spent the past 16 years juggling tackling blazes with staring on stage, television and the big screen.

He has previously starred in ITV drama Ultimate Force and crime thriller the Real Essex Boys, based on the 1995 Rettendon murders.

Mr Finan said: “I’ve been acting since I was a lot younger, but it’s one of those occupations where you’ve got to have a back up. The firefighting is what I can rely on and what pays my bills.

“I see it as I’ve got the best of both worlds.

“It can be really hard because I’m always travelling and I can’t really book holidays because I never know what is going to come up, I have to use all my annual leave from the fire service for auditions or acting jobs.

“Some days I go straight from doing the night shift at the fire station to filming in London.”

Mr Finan, who is signed up to Leigh-based agent Cherry Parker Management, added: “I’m sure the guys at the fire station will make sure they get their hands on a television so we can watch it together.

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I bet they’ve got something planned.

“My acting is a bit of a running joke with them!”

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Comments (5)

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case.
This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.supermadmax

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.

Score: -1

Smudge0407 says...10:17am Mon 16 Jun 14

supermadmax wrote…

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.

You really need to get your facts right before making a comment. They are striking over pensions not pay. Also they have to have permission from the fire service to have secondary employment

[quote][p][bold]supermadmax[/bold] wrote:
So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case.
This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.[/p][/quote]You really need to get your facts right before making a comment. They are striking over pensions not pay. Also they have to have permission from the fire service to have secondary employmentSmudge0407

supermadmax wrote…

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.

You really need to get your facts right before making a comment. They are striking over pensions not pay. Also they have to have permission from the fire service to have secondary employment

Score: 11

steve@eastwood says...10:27am Mon 16 Jun 14

supermadmax wrote…

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.

They work 48 hours a week. seven more than the average worker. They are in dispute over pensions. Please get your facts right before posting incorrect comments.

[quote][p][bold]supermadmax[/bold] wrote:
So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case.
This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.[/p][/quote]They work 48 hours a week. seven more than the average worker. They are in dispute over pensions. Please get your facts right before posting incorrect comments.steve@eastwood

supermadmax wrote…

So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.

They work 48 hours a week. seven more than the average worker. They are in dispute over pensions. Please get your facts right before posting incorrect comments.

Score: 8

Firemonkey126 says...2:11am Wed 18 Jun 14

Just out of curiosity, why has he spent the last 16 years staring on stage, television and the big screen..?

Just out of curiosity, why has he spent the last 16 years staring on stage, television and the big screen..?Firemonkey126

Just out of curiosity, why has he spent the last 16 years staring on stage, television and the big screen..?

Score: 1

Firemonkey126 says...2:19am Wed 18 Jun 14

supermadmax wrote: So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work. Do you think that by starting a statement with "This is actually" qualifies the statement you made as fact? Maybe if you had said "in my opinion"... just saying.

supermadmax wrote:
So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case.
This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work.
Do you think that by starting a statement with "This is actually" qualifies the statement you made as fact? Maybe if you had said "in my opinion"... just saying.Firemonkey126

supermadmax wrote: So they are allowed to moonlight nowadays. I thought that was the case. This is actually why they are out of order for striking for more pay, no one is stopping them from doing with jobs during their huge time off work. Do you think that by starting a statement with "This is actually" qualifies the statement you made as fact? Maybe if you had said "in my opinion"... just saying.

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